Tool of a surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact

ABSTRACT

The object of the present invention is to provide a cutting tool consisting of a suface-coated high pressure phase type boron nitride sintered compact, having a markedly improved adhesive strength of a hard coated layer to a cBN sintered compact substrate.  
     The feature consists in a surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool, in which at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a substrate of a high pressure phase type boron nitride, and a surface-coated layer is allowed to be present on the surface thereof, the said surface-coated layer comprising an intermediate layer present in continuous manner to the interface of the said high pressure phase boron nitride sintered compact substrate and a hard coated layer formed further thereon, the said intermediate layer consisting of at least one element selected from the Group 4a, 5a and 6a of Periodic Table having a mean thickness of 0.005 to 0.05 μm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an improvement relating to a cutting tool material using, as a substrate, a sintered compact comprising a high pressure phase boron nitride such as cubic boron nitride (cBN), wurtzite boron nitride (wBN), etc. which will hereinafter be referred to as “cBN sintered compact”, and in particular, it is concerned with a cutting tool of a surface-coated boron nitride having a hard coated film excellent in adhesive strength as well as smoothness.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] cBN (cubic boron nitride) has a hardness and thermal conductivity next to diamond and excellent characteristics such that reactivity with ferrous metals is lower as compared with diamond. Thus, a cutting tool using a cBN sintered compact containing this cBN has displaced grinding or working tools and cutting tools of cemented carbides or cermets in working hard-to-cut ferrous materials from the standpoint of improving the working efficiency and reducing the installation cost.

[0005] The cBN sintered compact for a cutting tool is a sinterd compact comprising cBN particles and a biner, which can generally be classified into the follwing two types:

[0006] (1) Sintered compact well-balanced in wear resistance as well as strength and mainly used for hardened steels, which comprises 30 to 80 volume % of cBN particles, the cBN particles being bonded through a binder predominantly consisting of Ti type ceramics such as TiN, TiC, TiCN, etc.

[0007] (2) Sintered compact excellent in thermal conductivity as well as strength and mainly used for cast irons, which comprises 80 to 90 volume % of cBN particles, the cBN particles being directly bonded and the balance of a binder predominantly consisting of an Al compound or Co compound.

[0008] cBN compacts for cutting tools have lately been watched with keen interest as a tool adaptable for the global environment problem, since consciousness for the global environment problem is more increasing, for example, as to reduction of industrial wastes such as grinding sludges and decrease of consumed electric power as a countermeasure for the global warming problem.

[0009] However, cBN particles have disadvantages that affinity to ferrous metals is larger than TiN, TiC, TiCN binders, in addition to having cleavage property, in spite of that the cBN particles have a higher hardness as represented by a Vickers hardness Hv of about 5,000 (the hardness Hv of the binder being at most about 2,000 to 2,800). Accordingly, further life lengthening is desired for the cBN compact tool because of finally expiring due to thermal abrasion and breakage of the tool edge due to progress of abrasion.

[0010] In particular, of late, expectation for the cBN compact tool has similarly been more increased from the standpoint of divsersification of hardened steel parts and function increasing and it has been desired to develop a tool capable of working a surface of workpiece in a high grade and with a high speed and high efficiency.

[0011] For example, in order to further improve the wear resistance and fracture strength of a cBN sintered compact, a method has been proposed comprising coating the cBN sintered compact with a film of TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, etc.

[0012] However, a cBN sintered compact tool meets with a problem that an unexpected delamination of a coated film occurs often, resulting in dispersion of the service life because of being used under severe conditions.

[0013] For the purpose of improving the adhesive strength of a coated film, there has been proposed a tool, which is used for previously roughening a surface of substrate in a roughness of 0.5 to 12.5 μm and film making on the roughened surface, for example, as shown in JP-A-7-18415 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,907. In the case of carrying out cutting using these tools, the shape of the tool surface is transferred to a workpiece and accordingly, the dimensional precision and grade of the worked surface is worsened as compared with the prior art cBN sintered compacts. Since the cBN tool is often applied to uses requiring a working precision with μm order, in particular, practical cutting by these tools is difficult.

[0014] On the other hand, as a means for improving the adhesive strength of a coated film without surface-roughening a cBN substrate, there has been proposed a tool comprising a cBN sintered compact whose surface is coated with a hard coated film consisting of titanium nitride through a metallic Ti layer with an average layer thickness of 0.05 to 0.3 μm, for example, as shown in JP-A-1-96083 or JP-A-1-96084. According to these methods, however, a cutting edge is exposed to a high pressure and high temperature environment during cutting a relatively hard, hard-to-cut ferrous material and accordingly, there arises a problem that metallic titanium thus softens and the hard coated film is easily broken and delaminated.

[0015] In a TiAlN-coated cBN tool of JP-A-8-119774, there is disclosed such a technique that a TiN layer is coated as an intermediate layer between a cBN substrate and TiAlN-coated film to bond the TiAlN-coated film thereto with a high adhesive strength without surface roughening the cBN substrate, but according to this technique, further improvement of the adhesive strength between the cBN substrate and TiN film cannot be expected in principle and in the case of coating a cBN sintered compact with a small content of TiN or TiC, that is, high cBN content sintered compact, moreover, lowering of the adhesive strength of the hard coated film is unavoidable.

[0016] Accordingly, the inventors have made studies on the mechanism of breakage or delamination of the hard coated film in the coated cBN sintered compact tool for the purpose of developing a tool capable of providing a high grade worked surface maintained for a long time without delaminating the hard coated film in the coated cBN sintered compact tool even if the tool is subjected to cutting under severer conditions.

[0017] Consequently, the inventors have found that:

[0018] (I) a cBN sintered compact is bonded with a hard thin film such as TiN, TiCN or TiAlN film by diffusion or reaction between the substrate and the hard coated film, during which a stronger adhesion occurs to the binder part rather than to the hardly sinterable cBN particles to maintain the adhesive strength of the hard coated film and substrate and

[0019] (II) When an excessive stress remains in the hard coated layer or when an impact is loaded on a hard coated film from outside, for example, during working a workpiece having an interrupted part, film delamination due to breakage in the interface between the hard coated film and cBN sintered compact or in the hard coated film takes place by such a stress.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cutting tool based on a sintered compact comprising a high pressure phase type boron nitride such as cBN, wBN, etc., having a hard coated film excellent in adhesive strength as well as smoothness.

[0021] It is another object of the present invention to provide a surface-coated high pressure phase boron nitride sintered compact tool in which the adhesive strength of the hard coated film to the substrate is remarkably improved, in particular, noticing an improvement of an intermediate layer, whereby the problems of the prior art, as described above, can be solved.

[0022] These objects can be accomplished by a surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool, in which at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a substrate of a high pressure phase type boron nitride, and a surface-coated layer is allowed to be present on the surface thereof, the said surface-coated layer comprising an intermediate layer present in continuous manner to the interface of the said high pressure phase boron nitride sintered compact substrate and a hard coated layer formed further thereon, the said intermediate layer consisting of at least one element selected from the Group 4a, 5a and 6a of Periodic Table having a mean thickness of 0.005 to 0.05 μm, preferably 0.02 to 0.04 μm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings are to illustrate the principle and merits of the present invention in detail.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a coated state of an intermediate layer according to the present invention on a cBN substrate surface.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a coated state of an intermediate layer according to the present invention on a cBN substrate surface.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a typical view of a film making apparatus by an arc ion plating method used for the production of a sintered compact according to the present invention, (A) being a cross sectional view and (B) being a plan view.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a graph showing a Cr distribution in a surface-coated layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The inventors have thought that in a surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact, improvement of the adhesive strength of the cBN sintered compact without roughening the surface thereof can be effected by forming an intermediate layer with good reactivity with cBN particles as a predominant component of the cBN sintered compact and the cBN sintered compact substrate can thus be coated with a hard coated layer with a high adhesive strength. Consequently, it is found as a result of our studies that when an intermediate layer is formed of a metallic or intermetallic compound containing at least one element selected from the Group 4a, 5a and 6a of Periodic Table and has a specified thickness, the cBN sintered compact substrate can be coated with hard coated layer with a high adhesive strength and the hard coated layer is hardly delaminated even if subjected to cutting under severer conditions. The present invent is based on this finding.

[0029] The above described objects can favourably be acchieved by each of the invention and embodiments summarized below:

[0030] (1) A surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool, in which at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a substrate of a high pressure phase type boron nitride, and a surface-coated layer is allowed to be present on the surface thereof, the said surface-coated layer comprising an intermediate layer present in continuous manner to the interface of the said high pressure phase boron nitride sintered compact substrate and a hard coated layer formed further thereon, the said intermediate layer consisting of at least one element selected from the Group 4a, 5a and 6a of Periodic Table having a mean thickness of at least 0.005 μm to at most 0.05 μm, preferably at least 0.02 μm to at most 0.04 μm,

[0031] (2) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in the foregoing (1), wherein the intermdediate layer contains at least one of elements of Cr, Zr and V.

[0032] (3) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in the foregoing (1) or (2), wherein the hard coated layer contains at least one layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Group 4a, 5a, 6a elements, Al, B, Si and Y and at least one element selected from the Group consisting of C, N and O and having a hardness of a Knoop Hardness Hk=at least 2,000 and a film thickness of at least 0.5 μm to at most 10 μm.

[0033] (4) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in any one of the foregoing (1) to (3), wherein the surface-coated layer is formed by an ion plating method, sputtering method or vacuum arc vapor deposition method.

[0034] (5) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in any one of the foregoing (1) to (4), wherein the outermost surface layer of the surface-coated layer consists of a compound consisting of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti and Cr and at least one element selected from the group consisting of C, N and O.

[0035] (6) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in any one of the foregoing (1) to (5), wherein the outermost surface layer of the surface-coated layer is a CrN layer.

[0036] (7) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in any one of the foregoing (1) to (6), wherein at least a site related with cutting is provided with a surface-coated layer having a central line mean roughness Ra, defined by JIS B0601 (measured length 0.8 mm), of at most 0.2 μm.

[0037] (8) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in any one of the foregoing (1) to (7), wherein at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a cubic boron nitride sintered compact comprising at least 30 volume % to at most 80 volume % of cBN and the balance of at least one binder selected from the group consisting of nitrides, borides, carbides of Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, and Al compounds and solid solutions thereof and unavoidable impurities.

[0038] (9) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in any one of the foregoing (1) to (7), wherein at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a cubic boron nitride sintered compact comprising at least 80 volume % to at most 90 volume % of cBN and the balance of at least one binder selected from the group consisting of Co compounds and Al compounds, and solid solutions thereof and unavoidable impurities.

[0039] (10) The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as described in any one of the foregoing (1) to (9), wherein the cubic boron nitride has an mean particle diameter of at most 4 μm.

[0040] As a component of the above described intermediate layer, there are preferably used metallic Cr, Ti, V, Zr and W. These metals are reactive with a high pressure phase type boron nitride such as cBN as a predominant component of the cBN sintered compact of the substrate and are reacted therewith to form nitrides and borides of the above described metals in the interface between the above described cBN substrate and intermediate layer, whereby to increase the adhesive strength thereof, and furthermore, the intermediate layer is reacted with a hard coated layer coated on the intermediate layer to readily form nitrides, carbides, carbonitrides and oxides of Cr, Ti, V, Zr and W, whereby to bond the cBN sintered compact as the substrate and the hard coated film.

[0041] When the intermediate layer is formed, elements for composing the intermediate layer are diffused into the inside of the sintered compact in the cubic boron nitride particles and binder part by kinetic energy incident upon the cBN sintered compact surface to form a gradient composition material continuously changed in composition. The cBN sintered compact surface containing elements for composing the thus formed intermediate layer further improves the adhesive strength with the intermediate layer.

[0042] In the interface between the intermediate layer and hard coated layer, there is also formed a gradient composition part of the elements forming the intermediate layer to improve the adhesive strength of the interface. Moreover, when the elements forming the intermediate layer in a very small amount are added to a layer of a compound such as TiAlN for forming the hard coated layer, the wear resistance and oxidation resistance of the hard coated layer can further be improved as to properties as a cutting tool.

[0043] When there remains excessive stress in the hard coated layer even if improving the adhesive strength at the interface of the cBN substrate, film delamination sometimes takes place due to breakage in the film by the residual stress. However, the film delamination due to breakage in the hard coated layer can be suppressed by continuously arranging intermediate layer more excellent in ductility than the hard coated layer with a suitable thickness.

[0044] The thickness of the intermediate layer is, as a mean thickness, at least 0.005 μm to at most 0.05 μm, preferably at least 0.02 μm to at most 0.04 μm to obtain a high adhesive strength (Cf. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). The ground for limiting the thickness is as follows. When the thickness of the intermediate layer is less than 0.005 μm, a diffusion layer or reaction layer cannot be formed or when the intermediate layer exceeds 0.05 μm, a layer consisting of a low hardness, metallic component remaining not diffused nor reacted is too thick to prevent the hard coated layer from delamination during cutting at a high temperature and high pressure.

[0045] The present invention is characterized in that the thickness of the intermediate layer is rendered thinner as described above, whereby the adhesive strength between the cBN sintered compact and hard coated layer is increased, thus obtaining advantages of suppressing delamination and breakage due to softening of the intermediate layer.

[0046] As a component of the above described intermediate layer, there are preferably used metallic Cr, Zr and V. Cr has a higher melting point, i.e. 1890° C., while Ti has a melting point of 1675° C. and Cr is hard to be coarser particles during coating the intermediate layer and capable of giving a uniform, dense and smooth surface roughness intermediate layer, because of having a high vapor pressure similar to that of low melting point Al in spite of that Cr is a high melting point metal. Consequently, in the case of using metallic Cr for an intermediate layer, the surface roughness of the surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact cutting tool is more smooth and in addition, a workedpiece can be worked in a higher grade than in the case of using the foregoing cutting tools having intermediate layers of metallic Ti, V, Zr, Hf and W.

[0047] Zr forms a boride through reaction with high pressure phase boron nitride during film making of the intermediate layer and Zr boride is very stable for ferrous metals, while Ti boride has relatively high affinity for ferrous metals. Thus, in the case of using metallic Zr for an intermediate layer, the metallic intermediate layer is less damaged during cutting and is subjected to less lowering of the adhesive strength during abrasion of the edge than in the case of using metallic Ti for an intermediate layer.

[0048] V and V compounds are capable of decreasing the cutting resistance because of forming an oxide having lubricating action.

[0049] Formation of the intermediate layer can be carried out in known manner, for example, by PVD methods such as vacuum vapor deposition method, sputtering method, vacuum arc vapor deposition method, ion plating method or by various CVD methods. Above all, the ion plating method, sputtering vapor deposition method and vacuum arc vapor deposition method are particularly preferable, since these methods provide high adhesive strengths with the substrates through high ionization efficiency of raw materials, ion implantation effect on the substrate, etc. In the case of forming an intermediate layer, control of the thickness in at least 0.005 μm to at most 0.05 μm is generally carried out by suitably controlling the variety of gases, gas pressure, vacuum degree, arc current, bias voltage and film making time depending on the variety of a target for the operation of an ordinary film making apparatus.

[0050] As described above, when using only a cBN sintered compact, there occur sometimes cases where a wear resistance is lacking and where cleaved particles or fallen particles of cBN during cutting are caught in a tool edge to form striated scratches on the flank wear part of the tool, which are transferred to the worked surface, thus deteriorating the surface roughness of a worked surface.

[0051] Thus, it is preferable that the hard coated layer comprises a layer of at least one compound formed of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, Al, B, Si and Y, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of C, N and O. When a cBN sintered compact is coated with the above described hard film layer with a good adhesive strength to prevent the cBN particles from contacting with a hard-to-cut ferrous material, there are given merits, for example, improvement of the wear resistance and breakage resistance of the tool and working of a surface of a workpiece with a higher grade. In particular, when Y is dissolved to form a solid solution, the hardness and oxidation resistance of the film can be improved.

[0052] In the present invention, the hard coated layer can suitably be formed of a plurality of layers, the outermost surface layer of which is preferably TiN or CrN layer. The reason therefor is that the cBN sintered compact exhibits a color of black, while TiN and CrN respectively have clear colors of gold and silver, which serve to make easy to distinguish a service life of expired tool and non-used tool, when using the present surface-coated sintered compact tool through a mass-production system, thus fulfilling management of the tools. It is particularly preferable that the outermost surface layer of the hard coated layer is a CrN layer, since adhesion during cutting can be suppressed to maintain a good finished surface for a long time by coating the outermost surface with the CrN layer having a very small friction coefficient.

[0053] The CrN film of the prior art has a lower hardness, i.e. Hk=1,700 than that of TiN film, i.e. Hk=2,000 in spite of having the above described excellent adhesion resistance. Accordingly, in the case of coating a cBN substrate with a monolayer or using a cemented carbide substrate, a large stress concentration takes place on the film surface, so that the CrN film or cemented carbide substrate is subject to plastic deformation and cannot follow in the deformation, thus resulting in cracking or delamination of the CrN film.

[0054] In the present invention, a cBN sintered compact or TiAlN (Hk=at least 2,500) more excellent in hardness than CrN is used as a ground, by which, even if a large stress concentration takes place, the quantity of deformation is suppressed to prevent the CrN film from breakage and to remarkably improve the durability.

[0055] The film thickness of the hard coated layer is preferably adjusted to at least 0.5 μm to at most 10 μm, since if the film thickness is less than 0.5 μm, the hard coated layer is subject to abrasion in too short time to maintain the effect of the hard coated layer, while if exceeding 10 μm, the bonding strength with the substrate is decreased by the residual stress in the hard coated layer.

[0056] Formation of the surface-coated layer is generally carried out in known manner, for example, by PVD methods such as vacuum vapor deposition method, sputtering vapor deposition method, vacuum arc vapor deposition method, ion plating method or by various CVD methods. Above all, the ion plating method, sputtering vapor deposition method and vacuum arc vapor deposition method are particularly preferable, since these methods provide high adhesive strengths with the substrates through high ionization efficiency of raw materials, ion implantation effect on the substrate, etc.

[0057] In the case of a thin film formation by the PVD method, e.g. ion plating method, ionized raw materials are implanted into the substrate by a bias voltage applied to between a vaporization source and a substrate to be coated and clean the interface or form a kind of mixing layer in the interface, thus resulting in a higher adhesive strength. In one embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate layer and hard coated layer are formed by in continuous manner by a same apparatus, whereby the above described effects are given during formation of both the layers.

[0058] The cBN sintered compact as the substrate has the preferred compositions (1) and (2) exemplified below:

[0059] (1) A cBN sintered compact comprising at least 30 volume % to at most 80 volume % of cBN and the balance of at least one binder selected from the group consisting of nitrides, borides and carbides of Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, and Al compounds and solid solutions thereof and unavoidable impurities.

[0060] This cBN sintered compact exhibits an improved wear resistance as well as strength, because of consisting of predominantly cBN particles and the above described binder with a low affinity for iron, strongly bonded with each other.

[0061] In this cBN sintered compact, the cBN content is preferably at least 30% to 80% by volume, since if the cBN content is less than 30 volume %, the hardness of the cBN sintered compact is lowered, for example, the hardness is lacking for cutting a high hardness workpiece such as hardened steel, while if the cBN content is more than 80 volume %, bonding of cBN particles with each other through the binder is difficult and the hardness of the cBN sintered compact is decreased.

[0062] (2) A cBN sintered compact comprising at least 80 volume % to at most 90 volume % of cBN particles bonded with each other and the balance of at least one binder selected from the group predominantly consisting of Al compounds and Co compounds.

[0063] In this cBN sintered compact, the content of cBN particles can be increased by carrying out liquid phase sintering of Al- or Co-containing metal or intermetallic compound having a catalytic function as raw materials and bonding cBN particles with each other. That is, because of the high cBN content, the cBN particles form each other a strong skeleton structure which is excellent in breakage resistance and makes possible cutting under severer conditions.

[0064] In this cBN sintered compact, the cBN content is preferably at least 80% to 90% by volume, since if the cBN content is less than 80 volume %, the formation of the skeleton structure by bonding of cBN particles with each other is difficult, while if the cBN content is more than 90 volume %, non-sintered parts occur in the cBN sintered compact due to lacking of the above described binder having a catalytic action and the hardness of the cBN sintered compact is thus decreased.

[0065] When the mean particle diameter of cBN particles in the cBN sintered compact as a substrate is at most 4 μm, the cutting property is markedly improved. This is due to that when the cBN particles are of at most 4 μm, the surface area of the cBN particles is increased to improve the adhesive strength of the cBN particles and hard coated layer. A preferred range of the mean particle diameter is 0.5 to 3.5 μm.

[0066] The present invention will now be illustrated indetail without limiting the same.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0067] (1) Preparation of Sample

[0068] A binder powder consisting of 40 weight % of TiN and 10 weight % of Al, and 50 weight % of cBN powder with a grain diameter of 2 μm were mixed, charged in a cemented carbide vessel and sintered at a pressure of 5 GPa and a temperature of 1400° C. for 60 minutes to obtain a cBN sintered compact for continuously cutting hardened steels. The resulting cBN sintered compact was worked in a cutting insert with a shape of SNGA 120408 according to ISO Standard.

[0069] This insert was coated with a hard coated layer by the following method:

[0070] FIGS. 3 (A) and (B) are typical drawings of a film making apparatus used in the present invention, which is according to a known arc ion plating method. Referring to FIG. 3 (A), a film making apparatus 1 comprises a chamber 2, main table 3, support rod 4, arc type vaporization sources 5 a and 5 b, cathodes 6 a and 6 b, direct current sources 7 a, 7 b and 8 as a variable power source and gas inlet 9.

[0071] The chamber 2 is connected with a vacuum pump to change the pressure in the chamber 2. This chamber is provided with the main table 3, support rod 4, gas inlet 9 and cathodes 6 a and 6 b.

[0072] The support rod 4 provided in the chamber 2 supports the main table 3. A revolving shaft is provided in the support rod 4 and this revolving shaft revolves the main table 3. The main table 3 is provided with a jig 11 for holding substrates 10. The support rod 4, main table 3 and jig 11 are electrically connected with a negative pole of the direct current source 8. A positive pole of the direct current source 8 is earthed.

[0073] The side wall of the chamber 2 is provided with the arc type vaporization sources 5 b and cathode 6 b in such a manner as facing the arc type vaporization sources 5 a and cathode 6 a connected with the arc type vaporization sources 5 a.

[0074] The arc type vaporization source 5 a and cathode 6 a are electrically connected with a negative pole of the direct current source 7 a. The positive pole of the direct current source 7 a is earthed and electrically connected with the chamber 2. The positive pole of the direct current source 7 b is earthed and electrically connected with the chamber 2. (As shown in FIG. 3 (B), a pair of vaporization sources 5 c and 5 d are arranged in the vertical direction to the paper surface.)

[0075] The arc type vaporization sources 5 a and 5 b partly melts the cathodes 6 a and 6 b by arc discharge between the cathodes 6 a and 6 b and chamber 2, and the cathode material is vaporized in the directions shown by arrows 12 a and 12 b. A voltage is applied to between the cathodes 6 a and 6 b and chamber 2. The cathode 6 a is composed of (Ti 0.5, Al 0.5). The cathode 6 b is composed of a metal or intermetallic compound consisting of at least one element selected from Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, such as Ti, Cr, Zr and V. The compound of (Ti 0.5, Al 0.5) means a compound having a ratio of number of atoms, i.e. Ti and Al of 0.5:0.5.

[0076] Into the gas inlet 9 for supplying gases are introduced various gases from the direction shown by an arrow 13. Examples of the gas includes argon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen gases, or hydrocarbon gases such as methane, acetylene, benzene, etc.

[0077] Using the apparatus shown by FIG. 3 (A), the chamber 2 was evacuated with revolving the main table 3 by the vacuum pump, and the substrate 10 was heated at a temperature of 450° C. by a heater (not shown), the evacuation being carried out until the pressure of the chamber 2 was 1.5×10⁻⁵ Pa. Then, argon gas introduced from the gas inlet 9 to maintain the pressure inside the chamber at 3.0 Pa, and while the voltage of the direct current source 8 was gradually raised, the surface of the substrate 10 was cleaned for 20 minutes at a voltage of −1000 V, after which the argon gas was exhausted.

[0078] Thereafter, argon gas was introduced from the gas inlet 9 in such a manner that the pressure inside the chamber 2 be 0.5 to 10.0 Pa. An arc current of 50 to 200 A was supplied from the direct current source 7 b to generate metallic ions from the cathode 6 b. The bias voltage of the direct current source 8 was adjusted to −50 V to −300 V and formation of various intermediate layers was carried out on the surface of the substrate 10, during which this state was maintained until reaching a predetermined thickness (10 nm). Depending on the variety of the target, a continuous intermediate layer was formed by controlling the above described gas pressure, arc current, bias voltage and film forming time, after which the direct current sources 7 b and 8 were cut off and the argon gas was exhausted.

[0079] After the foregoing intermediate layer was formed, nitrogen gas was fed from the gas inlet 9 so that the pressure inside the chamber 2 be 5 Pa, an arc current of 100 A was supplied from the direct current source 7 a to vaporize the compound of (Ti 0.5, Al 0.5), of which the cathode 6 a was formed, and a voltage of −150 V was applied to the direct current source 8, thus forming a hard coated layer of (Ti, Al)N with a thickness of about 3 μm on the surface of the substrate 10.

[0080] Subsequently, the direct current source 7 a was cut off and an arc current of 100 A was supplied to the direct current source 7 b to generate Cr ion from the cathode 6 b and form a CrN film of about 0.5 μm thick on the outermost surface of the substrate 10.

[0081] Further, inserts of the present invention (Sample Nos. 1 to 4) were prepared in an analogous manner to descriebd above, except changing the cathodes 6 a and 6 b and changing the film making time.

[0082] For comparison, there were prepared Sample No. 13, in which a hard coated layer was formed without forming an intermdeiate layer, Sample No. 14, in which the material of an intermediate layer was not in the scope of the present invention, Sample Nos. 5 and 10, in which the film thickness of the intermediate layer was not within the scope of the present invention, Sample No. 20, in which the film thickness of a hard coated layer was not within the scope of the present invention, Sample No. 21, in which the surface-coated layer of the present invention was coated on a cemented carbide substrate (P 30) and Sample No. 22, in which a cBN sintered compact was not coated with the surface-coated layer.

[0083] The hardness (Hk) of these hard coated layers as to the above described samples was measured by lapping a sample by a lapping paper of #10000, and indenting a Knoop indenter against the sample under conditions of a load of 25 g and time of 10 seconds, followed by measuring the indented size.

[0084] (2) Cutting Test

[0085] Using these cutting inserts, peripheral cutting of one of hardened steels, i.e. round bar of SUJ 2 (HRC 63) was carried out. The cutting was carried out under conditions of cutting speed 150 m/min, cutting depth 0.2 mm, feed 0.1 mm/rev. and dry process for 25 minutes and the flank wear width and delaminated state of the hard coated film were estimated.

[0086] Details of the samples and esitmation results in the case of effecting the cutting tests are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Intermediate Layer Hard Coated Layer Cutting Estimation Gen- Sam- Material First Layer Surface Layer Flank Wear Width Cutting Time Till eral ple (mean film (mean film (mean film After 5 Min. Cutting Esti- Film Delamination Esti- Esti- No. thickness) thickness) thickness) [mm] mation [min] mation mation  1 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.055 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.005 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm)  2 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.050 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.01 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm)  3 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.050 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.3 μm)  4 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.050 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.04 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm)  5 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.100 Δ 7.5 x x (0.06 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm)  6 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.055 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.005 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm)  7 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.050 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.01 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.3 μm)  8 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.045 ∘ —∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm)  9 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.045 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.04 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) 10 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.090 ∘ 10 x x (0.06 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm) 11 V TiAlN CrN 0.050 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm) 12 Zr TiAlN CrN 0.045 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) 13 no TiAlN CrN 0.055 ∘ 20 Δ Δ (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) 14 Nb TiAlN CrN 0.100 Δ 8 x x (0.003 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) 15 Cu TiAlN CrN not measured due to — 1.0 x x (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) film delamination 16 Cr CrN CrN 0.150 x — ∘ x (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) 17 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.120 Δ — ∘ Δ (0.03 μm) (0.2 μm) (0.2 μm) 18 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.060 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (0.3 μm) (0.2 μm) 19 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.050 ∘ 24 ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (9.0 μm) (0.5 μm) 20 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.060 ∘ 17.5 Δ Δ (0.03 μm) (10.0 μm) (0.5 μm) 21 Cr TiAlN CrN film delamination x 0.1 x x (0.03 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.5 μm) and breakage due to plastic deformation of cemented carbide substrate 22 no no no 0.130 Δ — — Δ

[0087] From these results, it will be understood that in the case of Sample Nos. 1 to 4, 6 to 9, 11, 12 and 16 to 20 of the present invention, whose intermediate layers are composed of at least one element selected from Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, film delamination is harder to occur in the Cutting Test, as compared with Sample No. 13 free from an intermediate layer and Sample No. 15 whose intermediate layer is composed of other elements than Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table. Furthermore, abrasion is found to be largely decreased as compared with Sample No. 22, i.e. a cBN sintered compact for cutting hardened steels according to the prior art.

[0088] Sample Nos. 5 and 10 each having a larger thickness of the intermediate layer and Sample No. 20 having a relatively large thickness of the hard coated layer, as compared with the present invention, encounter film delamination at the initial period of cutting, thus resulting in a shorter service life.

[0089] Sample No. 21 comprising a cemented carbide substrate coated with the surface-coated layer of the present invention cannot be used in the working conditions of the present Examples, because of meeting with plastic deformation from the initial period of cutting and causing breakage of both the substrate and surface-coated layer.

Example 2

[0090] (1) Preparation of Sample

[0091] Using balls and a pot made of a cemented carbide, a binder powder consisting of 15 weight % of Co and 5 weight % of Al, and 80 weight % of cBN powder with a grain diameter of 3 μm were mixed, charged in a cemented carbide vessel and sintered at a pressure of 5 GPa and a temperature of 1400° C. for 60 minutes to obtain a cBN sintered compact for intermittent cutting hardened steels. The resulting cBN sintered compact was worked in a cutting insert with a shape of SNGA 120408 according to ISO Standard.

[0092] This insert was coated with various surface-coated layers in an analogous manner to Example 1 by the use of the cathode 6 a formed of (Ti 0.5, Al 0.5) containing 3 weight % of Y, and then subjected to measurement of the hardness.

[0093] (2) Cutting Test

[0094] Using these cutting inserts, peripheral cutting of one of hardened steels, i.e. workpiece (HRC 58) of round bar of SCM 415 having two U-type grooves. The cutting was carried out under conditions of cutting speed 200 m/min, cutting depth 0.2 mm, feed 0.1 mm/rev. and dry process for 10 minutes and the flank wear width and delaminated state of the hard coated film were estimated.

[0095] Details of the samples and esitmation results in the case of effecting the cutting tests are shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 Intermediate Layer Hard Coatad Layer Cutting Estimation Gen- Sam- Material First Layer Surface Layer Crater Depth Cutting Time Till eral ple (mean film (mean film (mean film After 3 Min. Cutting Esti- Film Delamination Esti- Esti- No. thickness) thickness) thickness) [mm] mation [min] mation mation 23 Ti TiAlYN TiN 0.031 Δ — ∘ Δ (0.04 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm) 24 Ti TiAlYN TiN not measured due to — 0.5 x x (0.07 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm) film delamination 25 Cr TiAlYN TiN 0.029 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.014 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm) 26 V TiAlYN TiN 0.035 Δ — ∘ Δ (0.04 μm) (3.1 μm) (0.2 μm) 27 Zr TiAlYN TiN 0.025 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.04 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) 28 no TiAlYN TiN 0.031 Δ 2 Δ Δ (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) 29 Cu TiAlYN TiN not measured due to — 0.2 x x (0.014 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) film delamination 30 Cr TiAlYN TiN film delamination — 0.1 x x (0.04 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) and breakage due to plastic deformation of cemented carbide substrate 31 no no no 0.040 x — — x

[0096] From these results, it will be understood that in the case of Sample Nos. 23, 25 and 26 to 27, whose intermediate layers are composed of at least one element selected from Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, film delamination is harder to occur in the Cutting Test and a longer service life during cutting can be obtained, as compared with Sample No. 28 free from an intermediate layer and Sample No. 29, whose intermediate layer is composed of other elements than Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table. Further, a longer service life can be given, as compared with Sample No. 31, i.e. a cBN sintered compact of the prior art.

[0097] Sample No. 24 having a larger thickness of the intermediate layer as compared with the present invention encounters film delamination at the initial period of cutting, thus resulting in a shorter service life.

[0098] Sample No. 30 comprising a cemented carbide substrate coated with the surface-coated layer of the present invention cannot be used in the working conditions of the present Examples, because of meeting with plastic deformation from the initial period of cutting and causing breakage of both the substrate and surface-coated layer.

Example 3

[0099] (1) Preparation of Sample

[0100] Using balls and a pot made of a cemented carbide, a binder powder consisting of 50 weight % of TiN and 5 weight % of Al, and 45 weight % of cBN powder with a grain diameter of 1 μm were mixed, charged in a cemented carbide vessel and sintered at a pressure of 5 GPa and a temperature of 1400° C. for 40 minutes to obtain a cBN sintered compact for high precision cutting of hardened steels. The resulting cBN sintered compact was worked in a cutting insert with a shape of SNGA 120408 according to ISO Standard.

[0101] This insert was coated with various surface-coated layers in an analogous manner to Example 1 by the use of the cathode 6 a formed of (Ti 0.7, Al 0.3) and then subjected to measurement of the hardness.

[0102] The central line mean roughness Ra [defined by JIS B0601 (measurement length 0.8 mm)] of the surface-coated layer of a part related with cutting during the same time was estimated. The surface roughness of the surface coated layer was measured on various roughness samples prepared while varying the vacuum degree during film making within a range of 1×10⁻⁶to 1×10⁻⁴ Torr.

[0103] (2) Cutting Test

[0104] Using these cutting inserts, peripheral cutting of one of hardened steels, i.e. workpiece (HRC 60) of round bar of SCM 415 was then carried out. The cutting was carried out under conditions of cutting speed 200 m/min, cutting depth 0.1 mm, feed 0.08 mm/rev. and dry process for 40 minutes and the ten-point mean surface roughness Rz (defined by JIS B0601) of the workpiece and the delaminated state of the hard coated film were estimated.

[0105] Details of the samples and estitmation results in the case of effecting the cutting tests are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 Intermediate Layer Hard Coated Layer Cutting Estimation Gen- Sam- Material First Layer Surface Layer Sample Ra [μm] Workpiece Cutting Time Till eral ple (mean film (mean film (mean film (vacuum degree Rz Esti- Film Delamination Esti- Esmi- No. thickness) thickness) thickness) [10⁻⁴ Torr]) [μm] mation [min] mation mation 32 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.12 2.02 ∘ not delaminated ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (0.5) 33 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.15 2.27 ∘ not delaminated ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (1) 34 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.18 2.59 ∘ not delaminated ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (5) 35 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.19 2.66 ∘ not delaminated ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (0.5) 36 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.28 3.02 Δ not delaminated ∘ Δ (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.02 μm) (1) 37 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.35 3.48 x not delaminated ∘ ∘ (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.02 μm) (5) 38 Cu TiAlN CrN 0.55 4.61 x 2 x x (0.01 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.5 μm) (0.5) 39 no no no  0.20 4.04 x — — x

[0106] From these results, it will be understood that in the case of Sample Nos. 32 to 37, whose intermediate layers are composed of at least one element selected from Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, high precision working of a sample with a smaller surface roughness, that is, working in a smoother surface and providing a smaller surface roughness Rz in the cutting test is rendered possible, and film delamination is harder to occur to lengthen the service life, as compared with Sample No. 38, whose intermediate layer is composed of other elements than Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table. Furthermore, it is apparent that a higher precision worked surface is obtained even in comparison with the prior art cBN sintered compact for high precision working of hardened steels (Sample No. 39).

[0107] Thus, it will be understood that when the intermediate layer is Cr layer, in particular, in Sample Nos. 32 to 37 whose intermediate layers are composed of at least one element selected from Group 4a, 5a and 6a of Periodic Table, the surface roughness Ra of the sample is smaller and the surface roughness Rz of the workpiece is smaller, thus resulting in a longer service life, than the articles of the present invention in which the intermediate layer having the same surface roughness consists of Ti.

Example 4

[0108] (1) Preparation of Sample

[0109] Using balls and a pot made of a cemented carbide, a binder powder consisting of 40 weight % of TiN and 15 weight % of Al, and 45 weight % of cBN powder with a grain diameter of 3 μm were mixed, charged in a cemented carbide vessel and sintered at a pressure of 5 GPa and a temperature of 1400° C. for 50 minutes to obtain a cBN sintered compact for wide use cutting of hardened steels. The resulting cBN sintered compact was worked in a cutting insert with a shape of SNGA 120412 according to ISO Standard.

[0110] This insert was coated with various surface-coated layers in an analogous manner to Example 1 by the use of the cathode 6 a formed of (Ti 0.6, Al 0.4) and then subjected to measurement of the hardness.

[0111] (2) Cutting Test

[0112] Using these cutting inserts, peripheral cutting of one of hardened steels, i.e. workpiece (HRC 20) of round bar of SCM 435 was carried out. The cutting was carried out under conditions of cutting speed 600 m/min, cutting depth 0.5 mm, feed 0.3 mm/rev. and dry process for 30 minutes and the quantity of the flank wear width and the delaminated state of the hard coated film were estimated.

[0113] Details of the samples and estitmation results in the case of effecting the cutting tests are shown in Table 4. TABLE 4 Intermediate Layer Hard Coated Layer Cutting Estimation Gen- Sam- Material First Layer Surface Layer Flank Wear Width Cutting Time Till eral ple (mean film (mean film (mean film After 5 Min. Cutting Esti- Film Delamination Esti- Esti- No. thickness) thickness) thickness) [mm] mation [min] mation mation 40 Ti TiAlN CrN 0.100 Δ — ∘ Δ (0.03 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (less adhesion) 41 Cr TiAlN CrN 0.085 ∘ — ∘ ∘ (0.04 μm) (2.9 μm) (0.2 μm) (less adhesion) 42 Vr TiAlN CrN 0.075 ∘ — ∘ Δ (0.04 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (no adhesion) 43 V TiAlN HfN 0.075 ∘ — ∘ Δ (0.04 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (no adhesion) 44 V TiAlN VN 0.080 ∘ — ∘ Δ (0.04 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (no adhesion) 45 Zr TiAlN CrN 0.105 Δ — ∘ ∘ (0.04 μm) (2.9 μm) (0.2 μm) (less adhesion) 46 no TiAlN CrN 0.230 Δ 25 Δ Δ (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) (more adhesion) 47 Cu TiAIN CrN not measured due to — 0.5 x x (0.04 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) film delamination 48 V TiAlN CrN film delamination — 3 x x (0.04 μm) (3.0 μm) (0.2 μm) and breakage due to plastic deformation of cemented carbide substrate 49 no no no 0.250 x — — x (more adhesion)

[0114] From these results, it will be understood that in the case of Sample Nos. 40 to 45, whose intermediate layers are composed of at least one element selected from Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, film delamination is harder to occur in the cutting test to lengthen the service life during cutting, as compared with Sample No. 46, which is free from an intermediate layer, and Sample No. 47, whose intermediate layer is composed of other elements than Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table. Furthermore, abrasion is suppressed to lengthen the service life as compared with Sample No. 49 as the cBN sintered compact of the prior art.

[0115] In Sample Nos. 42 to 44 of the present invention, using V as an intermediate layer, there is no adhesion during cutting with good abrasive state.

[0116] Sample No. 48 comprising a cemented carbide substrate coated with the surface-coated layer of the present invention cannot be used in the working conditions of the present Examples, because of meeting with plastic deformation from the relatively initial period of cutting and causing breakage of both the substrate and surface-coated layer.

Example 5

[0117] (1) Preparation of Sample

[0118] A sample was prepared in an analogous manner to Example 1, except that in a production of a high pressure phase boron nitride (cBN or wBN) sintered compact, the mixing ratio of a binder and high pressure phase boron nitride powders, and changing the grain sizes of the powders in suitable manner. The coated layers were all composed of a hard coated layer as a first layer, i.e. TiAlN (3.0 μm), an intermediate layer, Cr (0.03 μm) and an outermost surface layer, CrN (0.3 μm).

[0119] (2) Cutting Test

[0120] Using these cutting inserts, peripheral cutting of workpiece (HRC 59) of round bar of SKD 11 as die steel, having six V-type grooves, was carried out. The cutting was carried out under conditions of cutting speed 120 m/min, cutting depth 0.2 mm, feed 0.1 mm/rev. and dry process and the time was measured until the surface coated layer was delaminated or the cutting insert including the cBN substrate was broken.

[0121] Details of the samples and estitmation results in the case of effecting the cutting tests are shown in Table 5. TABLE 5 Substrate cBN Sintered Compact Cutting Estimation High Pressure High Pressure Phase Binder Cutting Time Cutting Es- Sam- Phase Boron Boron Nitride Composition Till Film Time Till ti- ple Nitride Content Mean Particle Ratio Delamination Breakage ma- No. [vol %] Diameter [μm] [wt %] [min] [min] Remarks tion 50 cBN: 20 2.5 75: TiN —  1 breakage of substrate x 25: Al to expire life before film delamination 51 cBN: 45 2.5 75: TiN 9 12 — ∘ 25: Al 52 cBN: 55 2.5 75: TiN 10  14 — ∘ 25: Al 53 cBN: 45, 1.0 75: TiN 9 12 — ∘ wBN: 10 25: Al 54 wBN: 55 0.2 75: TiN 10  12 — ∘ 25: Al 55 cBN: 55 2.5 60: TiC 10  12 — ∘ 40: TiAl₃ 56 cBN: 70 2.5 75: TiN 10  15 — ∘ 25: Al 57 cBN: 90 2.5 75: TiN —  4 breakage of substrate x 25: Al to expire life before film delamination 58 cBN: 55 5.0 75: TiN 6 10 — Δ 25: Al 59 cBN: 60 2.5 45: Co, 30: Al —  3 breakage of substrate x 13: WC, to expire life before 12: TiN film delamination 60 cBN: 85 2.5 45: Co, 30: Al 8 14 — ∘ 13: WC, 12: TiN 61 cBN: 95 2.5 45: Co, 30: Al —  2 breakage of substrate x 13: WC, to expire life before 12: TiN film delamination 62 cBN: 85 5.0 45: Co, 30: Al 6  9 — ∘ 13: WC, 12: TiN

[0122] From these results, it will be understood that in the case of Sample Nos. 50 to 57, in which the binder of the cBN sintered compact substrate comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of nitrides, borides, carbides of Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table and solid solutions thereof and Al compounds, and unavoidable impurities, Sample Nos. 50 and 57, whose cBN contents are outside the scope of the present invention are inferior in strength of the cBN sintered compact substrate and tend to break at the initial period of cutting to expire the life. Further, it is found that in Sample No. 58, having a larger mean particle diameter, film delamination tends to occur.

[0123] From these results, it will moreover be understood that in the case of Sample Nos. 59 to 61, in which the binder of the cBN sintered compact substrate comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of Co compounds, Al compounds and solid solutions thereof, and unavoidable impurities, Sample Nos. 59 and 61, whose cBN contents are outside the scope of the present invention, are inferior in strength of the cBN sintered compact substrate and tends to break at the initial period of cutting to expire the life. In Sample No. 62, having a larger mean particle diameter, moreover, film delamination tends to occur.

Example 6

[0124] (1) Preparation of Sample

[0125] A sample of a cutting insert described below was prepared in an analogous manner to Example 4.

[0126] Using balls and a pot made of a cemented carbide, a binder powder consisting of 40 weight % of TiN and 15 weight % of Al, and 45 weight % of cBN powder with a particle diameter of 3 μm were mixed, charged in a cemented carbide vessel and sintered at a pressure of 5 GPa and a temperature of 1400° C. for 50 minutes to obtain a cBN sintered compact for wide use cutting of hardened steels. The resulting cBN sintered compact was worked in a cutting insert with a shape of SNGA 120412 according to ISO Standard.

[0127] This insert was coated with the surface-coated layer having the same structure as that of Sample No. 41 of Example 4 in an analogous manner to Example 1 by the use of the cathode 6 a formed of (Ti 0.6, Al 0.4) and then subjected to measurement of the hardness. The bias voltage was −300 V.

[0128] (2) Analysis of Element Distribution

[0129] Then, a thin film piece was prepared by slicing the above described cutting insert in the vertical direction to the surface coated layer, and the resulting thin piece was used as a sample for a transmission electron microscope by ionic shinning method. The sample was observed by the transmission electron microscope and selecting several sites in the film thickness direction from the interface of the substrate side as to the surface coated layer, a composition of composed elements at each of the analysis sites was sought using an energy dispersion type X-ray micro-analysis device (EDX). For quantifying, calibration was carried out by a working curve obtained from a standard sample. The present analysis was carried out on two sites, that is, a part corresponding to an upper part of the cBN crystal particles of the substrate and another part coprresponding to an upper part of the binder.

[0130] The results are shown in Table 6. TABLE 6 Upper Part of cBN Crystal Particles Upper Part of Binder Dis- Dis- tance tance From From Inter- Inter- face face (nm) N O Al Ti Cr (nm) N O Al Ti Cr  24 10.6 2.8 22.2 61.7 2.8  24 8.1 2.4 10.7 77.4 1.2  96 9.6 2.7 25.8 41.2 0.8 112 9.2 2.7 26.4 60.9 0.7 176 9.8 2.3 27.9 59.8 0.3 196 9.5 2.6 27.3 60 0.6 256 10.4 2.2 27.6 59.7 0.2 272 9.4 2.7 25.9 61.5 0.5 504 11.6 2.4 27.2 58.8 0.1 516 9.7 2.3 24 62 0.2 864 9.5 1.9 26.4 62.4 0

[0131]FIG. 4 shows the results of Example 6 in which Cr element distribution is plotted for the distances (mm) from the interface. It is apparent from FIG. 4 that the Cr element distribution is decreased toward the growth direction of the surface coated layer from the interface part, thus forming a gradient composition material, in any case of the upper part of the cBN crystal particles and the upper part of the binder.

[0132] Advantages of the Invention

[0133] The surface-coated cubic boron nitride sintered compact tool of the present invention can favorably be compared with the prior art one with respect to improvement of the adhesive strength of the hard coated layer to the cBN sintered compact substrate, improvement of the wear resistance and breakage resistance of the tool through suppressing contact of cBN particles and hard-to-cut ferrous materials and other excellent effects of improving a worked surface, whereby the service life of the tool is markedly improved. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool, in which at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a substrate of a high pressure phase type boron nitride, and a surface-coated layer is allowed to be present on the surface thereof, the said surface-coated layer comprising an intermediate layer present in continuous manner to the interface of the said high pressure phase boron nitride sintered compact substrate and a hard coated layer formed further thereon, the said intermediate layer consisting of at least one element selected from the Group 4a, 5a and 6a of Periodic Table and having a mean thickness of at least 0.005 μm to at most 0.05 μm.
 2. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermdediate layer contains at least one of elements of Cr, Zr and V.
 3. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the hard coated layer contains at least one layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Group 4a, 5a, 6a elements, Al, B, Si and Y and at least one element selected from the Group consisting of C, N and O and having a hardness of a Knoop Hardness Hk=at least 2,000 and a film thickness of at least 0.5 μm to at most 10 μm.
 4. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the surface-coated layer is formed by an ion plating method, sputtering method or vacuum arc vapor deposition method.
 5. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outermost surface layer of the surface-coated layer consists of a compound consisting of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti and Cr and at least one element selected from the group consisting of C, N and O.
 6. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outermost surface layer of the surface-coated layer is a CrN layer.
 7. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least a site related with cutting is provided with a surface-coated layer having a central line mean roughness Ra, defined by JIS B0601 (measured length 0.8 mm), of at most 0.2 μm.
 8. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a cubic boron nitride sintered compact comprising at least 30 volume % to at most 80 volume % of cubic boron nitride and the balance of at least one binder selected from the group consisting of nitrides, borides, carbides of Group 4a, 5a and 6a elements of Periodic Table, and Al compounds and solid solutions thereof and unavoidable impurities.
 9. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a cubic boron nitride sintered compact comprising at least 80 volume % to at most 90 volume % of cubic boron nitride and the balance of at least one binder selected from the group consisting of Co compounds and Al compounds, and solid solutions thereof and unavoidable impurities.
 10. The surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cubic boron nitride has a mean particle diameter of at most 4 μm. 